On Saturday at 5:30 p.m. IST, Mumbai City FC (MCFC) will travel to the JRD Tata Sports Complex to play Jamshedpur FC (JFC).

With only one victory in their past four ISL matches, the hosts have struggled recently against Mumbai. This is a big change from their previous dominance, when they won five out of ten matches.

MCFC has performed well away from home, going undefeated in their last three games. Against Mohun Bagan Super Giant in their season opener, they drew 2-2 as part of their streak. Should the Islanders lose this game, it might be the first time since the 2018-19 campaign that they have lost their first two road games.

However, JFC has struggled at home, giving in at least one goal in each of their past nine encounters. With only one victory in this run, it’s a concerning trend as they try to turn things around. In the competition, only Hyderabad FC (11) had a longer current stretch without a clean sheet.

Khalid Jamil, the head coach of Jamshedpur, has a stellar record against Mumbai City FC, having only suffered a single defeat in his five ISL meetings with the Islanders. But that loss occurred in their most recent encounter, a 3-0 setback in March 2024.

“We have to have confidence in our own abilities. We must be cautious and not get ahead of ourselves. On our home field, the next game is as important. According to the ISL official website, Jamil said, “We need to be ready and see success.”

Following their spirited draw with the Mariners, Mumbai’s head coach, Petr Kratky, praised his team’s attitude. He urged them to continue putting in a lot of effort since he thought the caliber of their group would soon show in the outcomes.

Since there may be difficult moments throughout the season, character is one of the most essential qualities we want in the changing room. However, we must continue to put in a lot of effort, and I think that as a squad we have some talent, as we have shown once again, “Kratky said.

“I don’t think there is any pressure while playing away from home. Every football player needs to overcome this obstacle. Ultimately, we want spectators to have fun during tomorrow’s game, but we also want to win,” Kratky said.

Javi Hernandez, an attacking midfielder for Jamshedpur FC, is now representing his sixth ISL club—more than any other foreign player in the competition’s history, second only to Marcelinho. In his 100 ISL games, he has amassed 21 goals, 16 assists, and 1.58 goal-scoring chances per game. Hernandez will be eager to start quickly while against the Islanders.

Tiri of Mumbai City FC is eager to show off his abilities in front of his old squad. Against the Mariners, the center defender completed five clearances, won four duels, made two interceptions, and made three recoveries. In the 70th minute, he added another goal, showcasing his offensive prowess.